If you decide to have a wedding reception in your backyard, prepare your neighbors in advance. Talk to them about the noise, cars parked in front of your house, tipsy wedding guests, and so on. Your immediate neighbors will suffer the most, so apologize to them and explain your situation before the actual event. Maybe take a food gift basket or a homemade pie with you when you go negotiate with your neighbors. No one wants the police coming to their wedding because the neighbors called them, so it’s in your best interest to have good relationships with people living next door.
